IST 226Networking Essentials
ARC Names and BOOT.INI

ARC (Advanced RISC Computer) Name Syntax in BOOT.INI

BOOT.INI specifies operating system boot partitions using a special ARC
(Advanced RISC Computer) name. The ARC name syntax in BOOT.INI is either:

scsi (a) disk (b) rdisk (c) partition (d)

or

multi (a) disk (b) rdisk (c) partition (d)

where a = the adapter number (starts at 0), b = the device address on the
SCSI bus (always use 0 when "multi" is coded), c = the hard drive
number on the adapter when "multi" is coded (starts at 0; always use 0
when "scsi" is coded), and d = the partition number on the specified
drive (starts at 1).

SCSI or MULTI?

Code "scsi" when the SCSI BIOS has been disabled for a SCSI
adapter (in which case the driver NTBOOTDD.SYS is used to access the SCSI
drives). For Intel x86 systems, the SCSI BIOS is typically enabled, in
which case "multi" should be coded. Also code "multi" for
non-SCSI drives. In short, for Intel x86 servers you would usually code
"multi" for the ARC Name.

Sample BOOT.INI File Contents

The following BOOT.INI file could be used in a system triple-booting Windows
98, Windows NT Workstation (the default operating system), and Windows NT
Server. Semicolons (;) in the first byte identify comment lines. Note how the
NTLDR boot menu timeout is controlled and how the default OS is identified. Also
note the correspondence between the [operating systems] list and the choices
appearing on the boot menu: